Callahan Tunnel Closure Begins December 27

The Callahan Tunnel Rehabilitation Project requires a full tunnel closure that is expected to last up to two-and-a-half months, starting on Dec. 27, 2013 through March 12, 2014.

The $34.9 million project includes rehabilitation of the 52-year old tunnel’s deck, curb line, gutters and replacement of the tunnel’s wall panels. The original deteriorated wall panels were removed in December 2012 as a safety measure due to significant corrosion to the panel wall anchor system.

The proposed work schedule includes the full tunnel closure in early 2014 with detours in place, followed by an additional 4-5 months of work requiring overnight closures between 11p.m. and 5a.m. The complete closure of the tunnel will reduce the overall duration of the project, provide enhanced public safety by minimizing changes to traffic flow, and better coordinate with other local projects including Tobin Bridge work, which is scheduled to resume in spring 2014.
MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey and Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Executive Director James E. Rooney are inviting members of the hospitality, restaurant, hotel, shuttle, limo, and taxi industries to learn about the project at a meeting scheduled for late October:

This meeting is intended to provide an opportunity to learn about the project and will include a briefing, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to sign up to receive important project communications.

Fall River Route 79/I-195 Ramp Work

MassDOT contractors will be undertaking overnight weekend bridge deck and joint repair work during the remainder of October on two of the Fall River "spaghetti ramps," connecting Route 79 and I-195. The ramp repairs support upcoming work on the Route 79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project.

During the work, MassDOT's contractor will close the ramps that connect Route 79 SB to I-195 WB/Braga Bridge and Route 79 SB to I-195 EB on Friday, October 18/Saturday, October 19 and Friday, October 25/Saturday, October 26 from the hours of 10 PM to 8 AM.

The schedule is weather-dependent.
Traffic trying to reach I-195 WB/Braga Bridge will be detoured onto I-195 EB and directed to Exit 7, Plymouth Ave, a left at Plymouth Ave, then a left back to the I-195WB ramp to Braga Bridge. Traffic trying to reach I-195 EB will need to take a left onto the Braga Bridge/I-195 WB and take exit 4A West to Rte. 103/Wilber Ave. order to access the I-195 EB ramp to the Braga Bridge. Detour signage will be in place throughout the work zone.

Please visit the project website to sign up for email alerts and updates and to learn more about this project. The Route 79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project is one of the five "mega" projects of the Patrick Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program to reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges in Massachusetts.

Belmont: Trapelo Road Project Advances

MassDOT's Highway Administrator Frank DePaola joined state and local elected officials from Belmont and Watertown for the groundbreaking of the Trapelo Road reconstruction project.

The project is a full reconstruction of 2.5 miles of Trapelo Road and Belmont Street extending from Mill Street to Ericsson Street and includes upgrading the catenary wire system that powers the MBTA buses, reconstruction of the existing sidewalks, and improved cycling accommodations, along with traffic signal upgrades at the intersections of Trapelo Road and Mill Street, a pedestrian signal east of Agassiz Street, Pleasant Street, Lexington Road, Shaw’s Drive, and Moraine Street, and Lexington Street at Thayer Street and Church Street.

"This project is an opportunity to address long-standing concerns of congestion as well as concerns surrounding the mixing of buses, motor vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians," said Administrator DePaola. "This project gives us a chance to be smart about how we reconfigure the roadway so that all modes can share this corridor in a safe and efficient manner."

MassDOT's contractor for the project is Newport Construction Corporation. The $17.1 million job is expected to take two years to complete.